Oil-tank protector.



1. w. CUNNINGHAM.

OIL TANK PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1914.

1,159,831 Patented NOV. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Jon-1N W-CUNNINGHHM 1. W. CUNNINGHAM.

OIL TANK PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 5- 19M.

1 1 59,83 1 Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 2.

TULSA. OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR T0 CUNNINGHAM TANK TULSA. OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

OIL-TANK PROTECTOR.

Application filed November 5, 1914.

To (1// whom it mr/ I/ com-urn.

Be it known that I. Joi-IN \V. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the l'nited States. residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ()il-Tank Protectors. of which the following is a specification. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to means for protecting tanks holding oil. gasolene or other in tlannnahle liquids from danger of being set on fire by lightning.

It is a well known fact that lightning seldom strikes a tank containing gasolene or oil, but that in ninety per cent. of cases the lightning strikes and ignites the column of gas arising from the tank and floating upward into the air. The ignition of the column of gas ignites the gas in the tank and the gas accumulated within the tank is exploded. thus igniting the oil or other liquid therein contained and rendering liable the ignition of other adjacent tanks.

The primary object of iny invention is to obviate this danger by providing means whereby the gas may escape from the inte-' rior tank, this means, however, preventing the ignited gas from flowing back into the tank and exploding the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the safety attachment which I have devised that the amount of opening through which the gas will pass out into the atmosphere may be readily regulated and controlled. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide what may be termed a gas burner disposed at the vent opening of the tank, permittin the outflow of inflammable vapors and permitting these inflammable vapors to burn eXteriorly of the tank for preventing the passage of inflammable vapors into the interior of the tank.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is av perspective view of a tank provided with my safety attachment at the vent opening; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the attachment itself in place upon the tank; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the roof of said Specification of Letters Patent.

"which is flanged Patented Nov. 9, 1915. Serial No. 870.477.

tank and through the attachment. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan viewsof the disks 13 and 14.

Referring to these drawings, A designates an oil tank of the usual form havingthe upwardly inclined roof 0:, provided with has any ordinary or usual form.

Disposed upon the top of the tank around the vent opening is a conical upwardly converging casing 2, which may be made of sheet' metal or any other suitable material, at its bottom as at 3 and riveted. bolted or otherwise attached to the roof of the tank. The upper end of the conical casing 2 has somewhat smaller than the opening 6, and riveted or otherwise attached to the upper end ofthe casing 2 is the upwardly extending cylindrical terminal cap 4 which has air inlet'open'ings 5 in its side wall adjacent its lower end. The upper end of the cap is formed with a plurality'of perforations 6."

Disposed within the cap 4 and arranged concentrically thereto is a cylindrical hood 7, the lower end of which is angularly flanged as at 8 for attachment to the lower end of the cap 4. The hood 7 is of course smaller in diameter than the cap 4 and as a consequence is spaced from the cap so as to leave an annular passagev 8 extending upward from the air openings 5 in the cap. The hood 7 is shorter than the cap 4 and has a rounded upper end perforated as at 9. Disposed within this hood 7 is a conical valve 10 an opening which is this roof being a vent opening 6. This tank which is connected by means of any suitable connection 11 to a screw 12 which has screw threaded engagement with the upper end of the cap 4. The Valve 10 coacts with the opening 9, and by rotating the screw in one tions on the next screen.

It will be obvious that a device. of this character, while permitting the outward passage of gaseous vapors accumulated plurality of small perforations 15,'

. thus holding the Qthe burners will a vacuum between upward and. away.

shutting out any fiamethat Within the interior of the tank, will prevent rain passing into the tank and will also prevent the passage into the tank of ignited gas, the aperture 9 in the hood 7 being relatively small and the apertures 15 in the bafiie plates 13 and 14 being also relatively small. The size oil the aperture 9 may of course be regulated by adjusting the valve 10 so that this aperture will be reduced or increased according to the exigencies of any particular case.

, it will be noted-that not only is the aperture 9 relatively small, and. rendered smaller .by the position of the apex of the conical valve therein, but the base of said valve has a diameter nearly equal to that of the hood, thus forming a relatively narrow annular passage around the base of the valve. It is also to be noted that the downwardly expanding side wall of the casing 2 with the gradually largerbaflle plates provide a series of chambers gradually increasing in dif ameter, so that the force of any explosion of gas in one chamber is lessened. by the gas exploding in its passage into the next adjacent chamber, so that the forcewhereby the flame is blown through the perforations is very greatly lessened it the flame has reached the chamber between the plates 13 and M.

'it is also to be noted that the perforations 5 in the outer casing member 4% provide for an upward draft through the casing 4, and this upward draift acts to. pre vent the inlet of flame by urging-the flame from the perforations flame at the top of the -jacket .or casing l. The perforations in the .bafile plates aresmall so that they act in may reach them. The suction caused by the draitthrough have a tendency to create the battle plates and cause a mixture that it will to be such be hard to ign te,

Having described my invention, what it claim is: I

l. Thevccmbination with a tank for inflammable fluid-s and having a vent, of a protecto riiorlthe vent including a hollow casing disposedoverthe vent and having a plurality o perforated bathe plates, the perforations being relativelysmall, the easing having a relatively small outlet perid ration, and means in connection with the perforation for increasing or the amount of gas passing therethrough.

decreasing 2. The combination with a tank for inflammable fluids, having a vent, of a protector for the vent comprising a hollow casing disposed over the vent, a hood disposed in the upper portion of the casing and having a relatively small outlet perforation, means in connection with the perforation for increasing orldecreasing the amount of gas passing therethrough, and a plurality of apertured baffle plates disposed Within said casing.

3. The combination with a tank for inflammable fluids, having a vent, of a protector for the vent comprising a hollow casing disposed over the vent, a cap formed on the upper end of the casing, a hood disposed within the cap and spaced from the wall thereof, said hood having a central outlet therefrom, and the cap over the of the hood. being formed with air inlets, and a plurality. of perforated bafile plates disposed within the casing.

l. in a protector for oil tanks, a conical casing having a cylindrical upper extension, the upper end of the extension being open, a plurality of perforated posed within the casing, a hood mounted within the upper cylindrical extension. and of smaller diameter than said extension, the upper end of the hood being formed with a central perforation, posed within the upper end of the hood and coacting with the perforation, a screw pass.

in throu h the up or end of the can and 7 a connection between said valve and screw. 5. in a protector for oil tanli's, a conical casing having a cylindrical upper extension,

the upper end of the extension being open,

a plurality oi perforated posed within the casing, within the upper cylindrical extension and of smaller diameter than said extension, the upper end of the hood being formed with a central. perioratioma conical valve disposed within the upper end of the hood and coact ing with the perforation, a screw passing through the upper end of the cap, and a connection between said valve and screw, the base of the conical valve having a diameter nearly equal to that oitthe hood.

in testimony whereof l hereunto arhx my signature inthe presence ottwo witnesses.

UHN JV; CUNNlNGrHAh l.

dfitnesses:

Enrrrr Bnoacn,

l or.

cal-fie plates disupper end bahle plates disa conical valve dis-- a hood mounted 

